The value of clinical pharmacists in hospitalization cost control: A
case study of radical gastrectomy
Abstract
Objective: Taking the practice of clinical pharmacists participating in
enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol of gastric cancer
patients undergoing radical gastrectomy as an example, to explore the
value of pharmacists in hospitalization cost control. Methods: 160
gastric cancer patients who underwent radical gastrectomy in Jiangsu
Cancer Hospital from February 2023 to October 2023 were divided into
control group and research group, with 80 cases in each group. The
control group implemented the conventional ERAS protocol without the
involvement of the clinical pharmacist. The research group was managed
by a professional clinical pharmacist on the base of the conventional
ERAS protocol. Results: (1) There were no significant differences in
age, gender, site of surgical resection, and TNM stage between the two
groups. (2) Compared with the control group, patients in the research
group had shorter length of stay (LOS) (P < 0.001) and first
postoperative ventilation time (P < 0.001), as well as fewer
hospitalization cost (P = 0.005). (3) Albumin on postoperative day (POD)
30 and prealbumin on POD7 were significantly different between two
groups (P = 0.029, P = 0.046). (4) The irrational prescription rate of
antimicrobials (P < 0.001) and total nutrient admixture (P =
0.001) in the research group were significantly lower than those in the
control group. Conclusion: This study shows that clinical pharmacists
participating in perioperative ERAS program for gastric cancer can
improve the nutritional status, promote the rehabilitation
postoperative, shorten LOS, and increase the rate of rational drug use,
thus reducing medical expenses